Genogram

Psych 441_ The Family and the Child: A Psychological View Genogram Assignment: Essay and Drawing Due Date: Tuesday, May 9, via Blackboard (but you can submit earlier)P

Genogram: A format for drawing a family tree that records information about family members and their relationships over at least three generations (McGoldrick, M. & Gerson, R., 1985; McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R. & Petry, S., 2008, 2020).

Goal of the assignment: Draw your family genogram and write a 4-to-6-page essay describing your family and family themes.

The specific purpose of this assignment is to give you opportunities to:

1) Use the genogram “drawing” as a tool for understanding and visualizing family structure and history, relying on the basic genogram symbols. (Refer to Blackboard.)

2) Integrate the genogram information into a descriptive essay describing the story of your family. Essay should reflect aspects of the genogram drawing and be based on a minimum of three generations.

3) Show your knowledge about basic family terms and concepts relied on for a genogram via a drawing/diagram and a descriptive essay.

4) Integrate family knowledge and selected terms and learn the various uses of genograms in family work and intervention.

General description of the genogram and some information for the assignment

A genogram is a way to represent your family's intergenerational system. Include your grandparents' generation, your parents' and yours. While originally designed for use in family therapy, genograms are also useful for research and medicine. Psychology students can consider genograms as one tool they may want to use in their future work with families.

Options

1. You will rely on the symbols and format from the assignment materials and the related slides and readings. As part of your essay, you can include a sample of your family rules, themes, myths, rituals, experiences, and/or events as these all have some impact on the family. You do not have to include all of the symbols in your essay. I will review the genogram symbols and meanings in class.

2. You may choose to do more generations (e.g., if you have children, you may do a four- generation genogram which would include your child’s (children's) generation, or you may want to go back to great-grandparents).

3. As you complete a personal genogram, consider how your family influences your views on family structure and processes. If you decide you cannot map your own family for any personal reason, you have the option to interview a friend. Please speak with me if you prefer this friend “interview” option.

Formatting guidelines

• / There is free genogram software available (though not for Apple/Macintosh). You

can download the free version of the software or draw your family genogram on 8” x 11” or 9” x 13” paper or cardboard (please fold larger size). I have posted a link to the free trial version of the software. You may want to consider using this software program or may prefer to complete the drawing in a larger format. Larger drawings are acceptable, but I will discuss options in class. Some students also use the Draw Programs in Microsoft Word or in an App (one that allows you to draw and print).

• / Essay length: 4-6 double-spaced pages not including your drawing, cover page or references. Your paper must be typewritten in 12-pt Times New-Roman font, with 1-inch margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right).

• / You will share with me and submit a copy of the drawing via screenshot or the software. You can upload the drawing and the essay via Blackboard. Please save a copy of the work you submit for your records.

• / Any material or concept drawn from the class readings or other sources (as you describe relationships and patterns) should be cited in APA this way: Sentence/description and cite with page #. Example: Sentence .... (F. Walsh, Ed., 2015, pp. xx).

Final Suggestions

• / Focus on yourself (IP - Index Person) as the center of the story and include the key

family members and their relationships with you. Please give your genogram essay title. A unique title can be helpful.

• / Be as specific as you are able to be as you offer descriptions of your family story and key events in your essay. If there is an aspect of your family that you know less about and/or if you prefer not to talk about a person or event, please omit this from your essay. Consider aspects related to confidentiality with any information you share. Pseudonyms are acceptable.

• / As noted earlier in this document, you can complete the assignment by creating a genogram based on a friend’s or other volunteer’s family. If you choose this, please let me know. Please use pseudonyms here as well for confidentiality.

• / If you have questions or have a draft ready for me to look at in advance, please ask me for a time to meet.

Grading and Academic Integrity This paper will be worth 20% of your final grade in the course. Please review the genogram grading criteria document. Guidelines included in the syllabus apply to this and all assignments. I look forward to reading your essays.